December 2012 Click on month for reports: 2012-13 ReviewAprilMay13Mar13Feb13Jan13Dec12Nov12Oct12Sep12Aug12preseason

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Championship season 2012-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

Day

Date

KO

TV

Home

Score

Score

Away

Pts

CumPts

Posn

Goal Diff

Match Report

20

Saturday

1st December

15:00

 

Bristol City

1

4

Wolves

3

25

17

+1

Bristol A

21

Saturday

8th December

15:00

 

Wolves

1

0

Birmingham

3

28

16

 +2

Blues H

22

Saturday

15th December

15:00

 

Middlesborough

2

0

Wolves

0

28

18

0

Boro A

23

Friday

21st December

19:45

Sky

Blackpool

1

2

Wolves

3

31

13

1

Blackpool A

24

Weds

26th December

15:00

 

Wolves

0

3

Peterborough

0

31

14

-2

Posh H

25

Saturday

29th December

15:00

 

Wolves

0

2

Ipswich

0

31

17

-4

Tractors H

Saturday 29th  December Wolves v Ipswich  2 Cresswell 33′ Campbell 64′

28595 welomed Mick back - and when Solbakken hooked hard-working Kevin Doyle for the perernnially underperforming Pennant the cries of (but too late) Super Mick McCarthy rang around Molineux, preceded by a chorus of "You don't know what you're doing" aimed at the current manager (but for how long).  Thommo on commentary said WW didn't compete, no shots on goal as they drop to 17th.  The half time team talk again did nothing as WW were even worse in the second half than the first.   Que sera sera, we're going to Shrewsbury....


Wolves 0 Ipswich 2 Cresswell 33′ Campbell 64′   - match report from the Express & Star

Wolves failed again in front of their own long-suffering fans as Mick McCarthy made a winning return to Molineux and heaped the pressure on his successor Stale Solbakken. 

Goals by Aaron Cresswell (33) and DJ Campbell (64) sentenced Wolves to their eighth winless game in their last nine at home, and had supporters chanting ‘what a load of rubbish’ after the final whistle.  Another setback made it back to back home defeats over a miserable festive period and three defeats in four after the collapse against Peterborough. By contrast, McCarthy has steered Ipswich to their seventh win in his 11 matches in charge to within a point of his old club, who were third and Ipswich bottom when he took over at Portman Road.   Home fans also chanted ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ to Solbakken after his decision to take off Kevin Doyle for Jermaine Pennant as part of a triple substitution in the 67th minute. Wolves weren’t as bad as they had been against Peterborough, but failed to create a single chance or an attempt on target, although they appeared to have had justifyable claims for a penalty in the second minute for a push by Luke Chambers on Doyle.  Solbakken made two changes to the side embarrassed 3-0 by Peterborough on Boxing Day.  Bjorn Sigurdarson and David Davis returned in place of Pennant and Tongo Doumbia, who both dropped to the bench.   McCarthy and assistant Terry Connor were warmly applauded as they made their way to the dugout before kick off before a packed Molineux.  Wolves settled the better in front of the large but subdued crowd and it looked as if they should have had a penalty in the second minute. Doyle and Luke Chambers gave chase to Christophe Berra’s chip forward and the Wolves striker appeared to be pushed to the ground as they wrestled for possession. But referee Darren Drysdale, who looked to be in a good position, was having none of it as he waved play on.  Doyle carried his protests on long and hard after the incident, as did several of his team-mates during the next break in play.   But action quickly switched to the other end, where Wolves were guilty of failing to clear their lines before DJ Campbell – who was sent off for Blackpool on a previous visit to Molineux in February 2011 – curled wide from 12 yards out.   More indecisive play inside their own box saw Ipswich winger Lee Martin unleash a vicious shot in the 10th minute.  But luckily for Wolves, Carl Ikeme was perfectly positioned to palm the ball down and hold at the second attempt.  Wolves began to look more assured in their play and started to get on top, without creating any clear-cut openings.  Bakary Sako, who had had two quiet games, rolled a shot wide in the 24th minute from 20 yards after some fine work from Davis, who supplied the pass then a decoy run. A half chance fell to Sako again four minutes later after an awful clearance landed at his feet, but he could only slash the ball high and wide.  The breakthrough came when Cresswell burst through with an unchallenged run into the penalty area and he curled home a shot from 15 yards, with Davis unable to close him down quickly enough.  But Wolves only have themselves to blame after failing to clear the ball properly four times in the build-up. The goal changed the game, with Wolves unable to create anything before the break.

If Wolves fans thought the half-time break would improve things, they were sadly mistaken as they again capitulated in the second period.  Ipswich started the half far better and carried menace too, as Guirane N’Daw saw speculative 30-yarder pushed behind by Ikeme before Chambers poked wide after Wolves failed to clear a corner. Wolves were utterly devoid of creativity and things got worse as Ipswich scored a simple second goal. Campbell took advantage of Roger Johnson misjudging a header forward by Chambers to skip through and beat the offside trap before slotting past Ikeme for his 10th goal in 16 games since joining on loan from QPR. Three minutes later, Solbakken made a triple substitution with Jamie O’Hara, Tongo Doumbia and Jermaine Pennant replacing Karl Henry, David Davis and Kevin Doyle.  But it was the taking off of the striker which angered the fans the most, and there were unsavoury chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’.  Although Wolves on paper carried more attacking threat, with Sigurdarson pushed up front alongside Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Doumbia and O’Hara pushing on from midfield, it didn’t materialise.  And in fact, it was Ipswich who looked the more likely scorers.  Campbell sent a curling attempt straight at Ikeme after former Wolves loanee Carlos Edwards beat Stephen Ward and fed the killer pass.  Ebanks-Blake’s touch let him down as he tried to control a long ball with only keeper Wayne Henderson to beat.  But Ipswich should have made it 3-0 in the third minute of time added on when substitute Michael Chopra bent the ball wide with Ikeme to beat after some awful play from Christophe Berra allowed him to be played clean through.
The final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for Wolves fans, many of whom had streamed out well before the end.
Wolverhampton
Wanderers
13 Ikeme
11 Ward
14 Johnson
16 Berra
32 Foley
08 Henry (O'Hara - 66' )
10 Sako
26 Davis (Doumbia - 66' )
09 Ebanks-Blake Booked
15 Sigurdarson
29 Doyle (Pennant - 66' )
Substitutes
31 De Vries
05 Stearman
25 Batth
20 Pennant
24 O'Hara
27 Forde
28 Doumbia
Ipswich Town
13 Henderson
03 Cresswell
04 Chambers
20 Smith
24 Orr
07 Edwards
08 N'daw
11 Martin Booked
17 Drury (Reo-Coker - 71' )
05 Campbell Booked (Chopra - 81' )
27 Murphy
Substitutes
01 Loach
06 Higginbotham
09 Emmanuel-Thomas
19 Hyam
23 Reo-Coker
10 Chopra
14 Scotland
Ref: Drysdale
Att: 28,595
MATCH STATS
Possession

Wolverhampton Wanderers 43%  Ipswich Town 57%
Shots511
On target2 6
Corners3 2
Fouls6  9
Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:19 Full time
Full Time
The referee signals the end of the game. 90:00 +4:01 Michael Chopra is ruled offside. Roger Johnson takes the free kick. 90:00 +2:43 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is caught offside. Stephen Henderson takes the free kick. 90:00 +2:05 Effort on goal by Michael Chopra from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target. 90:00 +1:33 A cross is delivered by Bakary Sako, clearance by Bradley Orr. 89:51 The assistant referee signals for offside against Daryl Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Christophe Berra. 89:09 Bradley Orr challenges Jermaine Pennant unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie O'Hara restarts play with the free kick. 87:26 Shot from just outside the box by Michael Chopra misses to the right of the goal. 86:05 Michael Chopra is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 84:53 The official flags Jermaine Pennant offside. Stephen Henderson takes the free kick. 82:28 The ball is sent over by Carlos Edwards. 80:57 DJ Campbell goes off and Michael Chopra comes on. 78:55 Effort on goal by DJ Campbell from 12 yards. Save by Carl Ikeme. 76:55 Centre by Jamie O'Hara, Shot by Roger Johnson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal. 76:55 booking  for Lee Martin for unsporting behaviour. 76:46 Lee Martin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bjorn Sigurdarson. 74:16 Roger Johnson takes a shot. Comfortable save by Stephen Henderson. 73:42 The referee blows for offside against DJ Campbell. Kevin Foley takes the free kick. 72:13 Unfair challenge on Tongo Doumbia by Lee Martin results in a free kick. Roger Johnson takes the free kick. 70:05 (Ipswich) makes a substitution, with Nigel Reo-Coker coming on for Andy Drury.
68:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tongo Doumbia by Guirane N'Daw. Tongo Doumbia restarts play with the free kick.
65:33 Jermaine Pennant replaces Kevin Doyle.
65:33 Tongo Doumbia is brought on as a substitute for David Davis.
65:33 Karl Henry leaves the field to be replaced by Jamie O'Hara.
63:51 The assist for the goal came from Bradley Orr. 63:51 Goal scored Goal - DJ Campbell - Wolves 0 - 2 Ipswich Goal scored by DJ Campbell from just inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-2 Ipswich. 62:12 Lee Martin takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 60:47 Kevin Foley sends in a cross, save made by Stephen Henderson. The official flags Sylvan Ebanks-Blake offside. Free kick taken by Aaron Cresswell. 58:52 Corner taken left-footed by Aaron Cresswell from the left by-line, Bakary Sako manages to make a clearance. 57:39 DJ Campbell handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Roger Johnson takes the free kick. 56:46 The ball is delivered by Carlos Edwards. 56:46 The ball is swung over by Carlos Edwards. 51:34 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on DJ Campbell by David Davis. Tommy Smith takes the free kick. 48:22 Direct free kick taken by Stephen Ward. 48:22 The referee books DJ Campbell for unsporting behaviour. 48:10 DJ Campbell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Ward. 45:45 Guirane N'Daw takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. Outswinging corner taken by Lee Martin from the right by-line, Luke Chambers has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target. 45:01 The referee gets the second half underway. 45:00 +1:26 Half time
Half Time
The ref blows to end the first period. 44:20 Bradley Orr sends in a cross. 43:41 The ball is crossed by Bradley Orr, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. 41:33 Stephen Henderson takes the direct free kick. 41:33 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake goes into the book for unsporting behaviour. 41:27 Foul by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on Aaron Cresswell, free kick awarded. 41:01 Free kick awarded for a foul by DJ Campbell on Stephen Ward. Free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 37:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Martin by Kevin Doyle. Stephen Henderson restarts play with the free kick. 36:18 Unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Luke Chambers results in a free kick. Bakary Sako has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, Andy Drury gets a block in. 34:50 Carlos Edwards produces a cross, DJ Campbell has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the right of the goal. 32:56 The assist for the goal came from DJ Campbell. 32:56 Goal scored Goal - Aaron Cresswell - Wolves 0 - 1 Ipswich Aaron Cresswell scores a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Ipswich. 32:50 A cross is delivered by Lee Martin, 28:13 The ball is sent over by Lee Martin, comfortable save by Carl Ikeme. 27:12 Bakary Sako produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post. 26:33 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako, Guirane N'Daw makes a clearance. 24:44 A cross is delivered by Bakary Sako, save by Stephen Henderson. 23:07 Bakary Sako produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal. 21:09 Kevin Foley fouled by Daryl Murphy, the ref awards a free kick. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick. 14:44 The official flags DJ Campbell offside. Indirect free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 13:40 Bakary Sako takes the inswinging corner, Stephen Henderson makes a save. 12:25 Bakary Sako takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Guirane N'Daw. 11:47 The referee blows for offside. Carl Ikeme takes the indirect free kick. 10:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Drury by David Davis. Stephen Henderson restarts play with the free kick. 9:49 Unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Tommy Smith results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Bakary Sako from right channel, save made by Stephen Henderson. 9:22 Lee Martin takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 9:22 Daryl Murphy takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. 7:22 Lee Martin produces a cross, save made by Carl Ikeme. 6:06 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kevin Doyle. Stephen Henderson takes the indirect free kick. 5:52 Daryl Murphy is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 5:11 Guirane N'Daw fouled by David Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Stephen Henderson takes the direct free kick. 3:05 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Drury by Karl Henry. Stephen Henderson restarts play with the free kick. 2:39 Shot on goal by Lee Martin from just inside the area clears the crossbar. 0:00 The match begins.

TEAM NEWS
Wolves manager Stale Solbakken is expected to make changes to his side after their 3-0 home defeat against Peterborough on

Boxing Day.   Winger Bjorn Sigurdarson may be given a starting place after impressing in the win as might defender Richard Stearman.   Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy may keep faith with an unchanged side for a fifth successive match.  McCarthy does not have any new injury concerns as he returns to his former club where he was sacked in February.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Wolves recorded a second successive 2-0 Portman Road victory in September, and are now hoping to complete their second

double over the Suffolk club in six years.
• Ipswich are searching for a first goal in four Championship matches against the black-country club.
• The most recent of Ipswich's five league victories at Molineux was in November 1991.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
• The 3-0 loss to Peterborough on Boxing Day was Wolves' fifth defeat in eight league games.
• Conversely, the mid-table Midlanders are chasing a fourth win in six, and looking for a seventh victory against a bottom-six club.
• Wanderers have ended the calendar year on a winning note once in eight seasons, when defeating Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in

2010.

Ipswich Town
• Ipswich restored the five-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone, with the 2-1 Boxing Day victory at Charlton;

their fourth win in six and sixth in 11 games under Mick McCarthy.
• The Tractor Boys are looking for a fourth away victory against a bottom-half club, having already taken maximum points from

Bolton, Birmingham and Charlton and gained a point at Barnsley.
• If selected, Danny Higginbotham will be playing on his 34th birthday.

Mick McCarthy: Is he still 'SuperMick' to Wolves fans?
There is an old saying that distance lends enchantment and time certainly has proved a great healer at Molineux for former

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy.
When 'SuperMick' lost his job as Wolves boss in February, after five and a half highly entertaining years at the helm, there were few

dissenting voices at the golden palace.
His sacking came the day after an embarrassing 5-1 home defeat by, of all teams, West Bromwich Albion.  Although it was just eight days after Wolves had celebrated their first win in two months, and all five Albion goals owed something to good fortune, the general mood at Molineux was that he had to go.  It was only when it became clear that bungling Wolves had no immediate replacement lined up that attitudes changed once more.  By season's end, when Alan Curbishley, Steve Bruce and Walter Smith had all passed on the job and Wolves had picked up just four points in 13 winless games under McCarthy's old number two Terry Connor, it was widely considered that they might have done better to stick with Mick.

McCarthy's best Wolves one liners
•August 2006 (news conference before his first game): "At the moment we've got 16 players. The MM on my tracksuit stands for

Mick McCarthy . . . not Merlin the Magician"
•December 2009 (after fielding a weakened team against Man United at Old Trafford, shortly after Tiger Woods' fall from grace):

"I've had a lovely letter from Tiger thanking me for taking the pressure off him. Apparently he's driving round in his car singing

'SuperMick McCarthy'"
•September 2011 (response to QPR captain Joey Barton's Twitter taunts): "Opinions are like backsides. We've all got them, but it's

not wise to air them in public."

Could he have kept them up?

"Yes," says McCarthy confidently ahead of Saturday's return to Molineux as manager of Ipswich Town. "But that's easy for me to

say. The reality is I don't know. We'd stayed up for one or two seasons prior to that and been in worse positions.  And I do think I'd have kept the club up," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.  The feeling that Wolves made a mistake 10 months ago still pervades Molineux. 
Some of the more rose-tinted recollections of McCarthy are perhaps engendered by slight mistrust of the Norwegian methods of

current manager Stale Solbakken, on whom the South Bank jury remains out.  But the continued affection for the much-loved, wise-cracking Yorkshireman from the majority of Wolves fans is also triggered by seeing from afar the job he is now doing down in Suffolk.
"People made the decision," said McCarthy. "Whether they have any recriminations about making that decision I don't know, but not

from me, not at all.  It wasn't to be but I'm here now, I'm loving what I'm doing and I have no desire to do anything else."

Having taken over the Tractor Boys when they were bottom of the Championship, McCarthy's no-nonsense approach at Portman

Road, aided by his former Wolves assistant Connor, has already dragged Ipswich five points clear of danger.

In his 11 games in charge, Ipswich have won six and drawn two and, aside from two hammerings in his first four games (5-0 at

Crystal Palace, then 6-0 at Leicester), Town have shipped just eight goals in his other nine games at the wheel.

Contrast that to a Wolves side who have averaged close to two goals per game over the last two months, culminating in the misery

of a 3-0 Boxing Day home stuffing by relegation favourites Peterborough United.

"They had a bad result on Boxing Day," admits McCarthy. "But that often happens on Boxing Day. This league throws up crazy

results and Peterborough had been on a good run.

Mick McCarthy's Molineux years
 
•2006-07 - Takes charge in July 2006, following Glenn Hoddle's abrupt exit, two weeks before the start of the season, inheriting a

squad of just 12 contracted players - but leads Wolves to the Championship play-offs, losing over two legs to West Bromwich Albion
•2007-08 - Wolves finish just a place outside the Championship play-offs on goal difference
•2008-09 - McCarthy leads Wolves to the Championship title
•2009-10 - Wolves finish 15th in the Premier League - their best top-flight finish in 30 years
•2010-11 - Wolves scrape Premier League survival on goal difference on a dramatic final day of the season
•2011-12 - Sacked on 13 February following a 5-1 home defeat by Albion (all of whose five goals were deflected)

"And I actually think Wolves have got a great team. They've some really good players and I'm surprised to see them where they

are, I have to be honest.

"Of the team that's playing, six or seven of them were in Championship-winning teams with me [Karl Henry, Kevin Foley, Richard

Stearman, Stephen Ward, Christophe Berra, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Carl Ikeme], Reading [Kevin Doyle] or Birmingham [Roger

Johnson].

"I know them. I know their strengths and their weaknesses."

Solbakken has had bad luck with injuries to a string of wide players, not to mention the loss of Wales international keeper Wayne

Hennessey.

And given that McCarthy's more recent Wolves predecessors Graham Taylor (Watford), Mark McGhee (Brighton), Colin Lee (Millwall)

and Dave Jones (Cardiff) have all taken teams back there and got results - as far as Solbakken is concerned, it is not the ideal

timing for the return of such a favourite son to Molineux.

Not that he will come back to the Black Country bearing any malice.

"I did a good job at Molineux," said McCarthy. "I loved it there. I had a great time.

"Great club, great people and I've no axe to grind with anyone. I'm going back with my head held high.

"I hope I get a good response. If I do, great. If I don't, it won't bother me.

"There's always got to be a little bit of you wanting to show everyone what they're missing

"I'd like to take my team back there and play well put on a good show and win.

"But I don't want to win this one more than any other game . . . not unless they give me more than three points."

Also related to this story
McCarthy named as Ipswich manager 01 Nov 2012 Ipswich
Moxey defends sacking of McCarthy 23 Apr 2012 Wolves
Wolves dismiss manager McCarthy 13 Feb 2012 Wolves
No animosity at Wolves - McCarthy 03 Feb 2012 Wolves
Watch video I have taken heat off Woods - McCarthy 18 Dec 2009 Wolverhampton Wanderers
McCarthy defends Wolves selection 16 Dec 2009 Eng Prem
McCarthy's Wolves win promotion 18 Apr 2009 Eng Div 1
McCarthy named new Wolves manager 21 Jul 2006 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wednesday 26th December Wolves v Posh

Wolves 0  Peterborough 3 Tomlin 17′Rowe 43′Gayle 69′

This time it's former Wolf Mark Little - abandoned by McCarthy after being sent off at Palace and then sold - who gets his revenge.
The Express & Star were really disappointed in the performance
Sorry Wolves crashed to their heaviest Championship defeat of the season in a laboured performance against resurgent  Peterborough at Molineux.

Lee Tomlin (17), Tommy Rowe (43) and Mark Little assist for Gayle (69) sentenced Stale Solbakken’s side to their biggest Championship loss under the Norwegian.  Jamie O’Hara’s return from the bench for the last 14 minutes after nine months out was welcome but there was little else to cheer as Wolves produced arguably their worst performance of the season. But while O’Hara watched on, there was little to cheer for Wolves fans as their team looked sluggish right from the start.  Gayle served notice of Peterborough’s intentions in the four
th minute with a rising shot that flew over after a strong run and pass from George Boyd. Six minutes later Posh went even closer and it took a superb save from in-form keeper Carl Ikeme to prevent the visitors taking the lead after the busy Lee Tomlin left Gayle clean through for a clean-through chance. And with Wolves looking well below par, it was hardly a shock when Peterborough took the lead. Ikeme made a brilliant flying save to tip Tomlin’s piledriver on to the bar after a fine unchallenged run and pass by Joe Newell, but the ball bounced down over the line. Wolves recovered to force their best spell of the game until just before half time, sparked by Bakary Sako’s free kick which was tipped away by keeper Robert Olejnik.  Kevin Foley had to produce a superb challenge on dangerman Newell deep inside the area to put him off as he shaped to shoot.  But Wolves quickly returned to the attack and Pennant curled a free kick disappointingly over the bar from 30 yards. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake went much closer five minutes before the break when he crashed a rising drive inches over the bar after a driving run from Kevin Doyle.  Seconds later, Stephen Ward’s shot on the turn was parried by Olejnik after the former Villa youth keeper pushed away a corner.  And Wolves’ attacking spree reached its height in the 41st minute when Sako’s fierce angled shot was turned around the post.   But just before the break, Posh doubled their lead against the run of play when left wing back Rowe cut inside a flimsy challenge from Pennant and rolled a right-foot shot into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area.  Solbakken tried to get Wolves moving when he gambled at the break by sending on fit-again Bjorn Sigurdarson for Stephen Ward, who failed to finish a league game for the first time since April 2011.  It left Wolves matching up Posh’s 3-5-2 formation with Pennant switching to the left.   But instead of inspiring Wolves, things just got worse as the side failed to spark or display any spark of imagination.  Chances were thin on the ground, although Pennant drilled woefully wide after the ball sat up for him invitingly after Sako’s cross was blocked.  So instead of a comeback, Wolves’ fate in defeat was sealed – and after Adlene Guedioura and Mark Davies scored against them at Molineux, Mark Little became the latest old boy to haunt his former team when Gayle stabbed home from his cross   to punish woeful defending.  Pennant was booked for hacking down Little in the 75th minute, and that proved to be his last action as he was substituted a minute later to ironic cheers as David Davis replaced him.  O’Hara joined Davis in a joint substitution, but the midfielder couldn’t inspire Wolves to rescue this game.  And they will have to be a lot better than this if they are to get anything against Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich on Saturday.


FT 90 +5  HT 0-2
24 December 2012


Peterborough made it three wins out of three after recording a brilliant victory at Wolves.


LINEUP, BOOKINGS (1) & S (6)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme
11 Ward (Sigurdarson - 46' )
14 Johnson
16 Berra
32 Foley
08 Henry
10 Sako
20 Pennant Booked (Davis - 76' )
28 Doumbia
09 Ebanks-Blake (O'Hara - 76' )
29 Doyle
Substitutes
31 De Vries
05 Stearman
25 Batth
24 O'Hara
26 Davis
27 Forde
15 Sigurdarson
Peterborough United
01 Olejnik
05 Zakuani
19 Little
06 Bostwick
14 Rowe
17 Newell (Ferdinand - 81' )
20 Knight-Percival
33 Thorne (McCann - 86' )
08 Tomlin (Swanson - 81' )
10 Boyd
34 Gayle
Substitutes
13 Day
03 Alcock
04 Brisley
07 Swanson
11 McCann
16 Kearns
18 Ferdinand
Ref: Mark Heywood
Att: 23,033
MATCH STATS
Possession

Wolverhampton Wanderers 49% Peterborough United 51%
Shots1111
On target 7 7
Corners 8 4
Fouls 510
Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:02 Full time
Full Time
The match has reached full-time. 90:00 +3:45 Centre by David Davis, Grant McCann gets a block in. 90:00 +1:24 Unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Michael Bostwick results in a free kick. Bakary Sako restarts play with the free kick. The ball is crossed by Bakary Sako, Christophe Berra takes a shot. Michael Bostwick gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako from the right by-line, clearance by Mark Little. 87:12 Mark Little takes a shot. Christophe Berra gets a block in. Short corner worked by George Boyd. 86:46 David Davis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on George Boyd. Free kick taken by Grant McCann. 85:37 George Thorne goes off and Grant McCann comes on. 80:45 Lee Tomlin goes off and Danny Swanson comes on. 80:45 Joe Newell goes off and Kane Ferdinand comes on. 79:38 Bakary Sako takes a corner. 77:50 George Boyd concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie O'Hara. Bakary Sako crosses the ball in from the free kick. David Davis sends in a cross, Michael Bostwick manages to make a clearance. 77:26 Mark Little gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bakary Sako. Direct free kick taken by Bakary Sako. 74:40 Free kick crossed right-footed by George Boyd from right channel, clearance made by Kevin Foley. 74:40 Jamie O'Hara on for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 74:40 David Davis replaces Jermaine Pennant. 74:40 Booking The referee shows Jermaine Pennant a yellow card. 74:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Little by Jermaine Pennant. 71:41 Lee Tomlin takes a short corner. 68:38 The assist for the goal came from Mark Little. 68:38 Goal scored  Goal - Dwight Gayle - Wolves 0 - 3 Peterboro Dwight Gayle finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-3 Peterborough. 68:31 Mark Little delivers the ball, 62:33 The ball is delivered by Karl Henry, clearance by Gabriel Zakuani. 60:14 The ball is delivered by Bjorn Sigurdarson, Headed effort from inside the area by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake misses to the left of the target. 59:38 Centre by Bjorn Sigurdarson, save by Robert Olejnik. 58:46 Tommy Rowe crosses the ball, Header on goal by Joe Newell from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. 57:49 Dwight Gayle has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal. 57:00 Dwight Gayle concedes a free kick for a foul on Roger Johnson. Roger Johnson restarts play with the free kick. 54:49 The ball is delivered by Bjorn Sigurdarson. 53:45 Jermaine Pennant fouled by Mark Little, the ref awards a free kick. Christophe Berra takes the free kick. 53:21 Tommy Rowe produces a cross, save made by Carl Ikeme. 49:42 Bakary Sako produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Bostwick. Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Jermaine Pennant goes wide of the right-hand upright. 49:25 The ball is crossed by Tongo Doumbia, Michael Bostwick manages to make a clearance. 47:02 Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme. 45:01 The referee gets the second half underway. 45:01 Stephen Ward goes off and Bjorn Sigurdarson comes on. 45:00 +2:06 Half time
Half Time
The ref blows to end the first period. 45:00 +1:52 The official flags Lee Tomlin offside. Christophe Berra takes the free kick. 45:00

+0:43 Tongo Doumbia challenges George Boyd unfairly and gives away a free kick. George Thorne restarts play with the free kick.

42:25 The assist for the goal came from George Boyd. 42:25 Goal scored
Goal - Tommy Rowe - Wolves 0 - 2 Peterboro
A goal is scored by Tommy Rowe from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-2 Peterborough. 39:12 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a save. Jermaine Pennant takes the outswinging corner, Stephen Ward takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a save. Outswinging corner taken by Jermaine Pennant from the right by-line. Bakary Sako takes a shot. Save made by Robert Olejnik. Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Michael Bostwick gets a block in. 38:28 Joe Newell takes a shot. Blocked by Roger Johnson. 36:14 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Bostwick by Bakary Sako. Robert Olejnik restarts play with the free kick. 32:02 The ball is delivered by Bakary Sako, blocked by Michael Bostwick. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Karl Henry by Lee Tomlin. Jermaine Pennant has an effort direct from the free kick. 30:54 The ball is delivered by George Boyd, Roger Johnson manages to make a clearance. 27:43 Free kick awarded for a foul by George Thorne on Tongo Doumbia. Bakary Sako delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing. 23:35 Corner taken by Jermaine Pennant, Roger Johnson takes a shot. Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Save by Robert Olejnik. 22:38 Jermaine Pennant fouled by Joe Newell, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 21:27 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lee Tomlin, Roger Johnson manages to make a clearance. 19:53 The ball is sent over by George Thorne, Shot from deep inside the area by George Boyd goes over the bar. 19:09 Outswinging corner taken by George Boyd, Roger Johnson manages to make a clearance. 16:06 Assist on the goal came from Joe Newell. 16:06 Goal scored Goal - Lee Tomlin - Wolves 0 - 1 Peterboro Lee Tomlin grabs a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Peterborough. 12:39 Michael Bostwick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Free kick taken by Kevin Doyle. 11:15 Unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant by Joe Newell results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jermaine Pennant. 10:15 Foul by Karl Henry on Lee Tomlin, free kick awarded. George Boyd takes the direct free kick. 9:23 Dwight Gayle takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. 8:26 The ball is swung over by Jermaine Pennant, Nathaniel Knight-Percival makes a clearance. 5:08 Corner taken right-footed by Jermaine Pennant, Roger Johnson takes a shot. Save made by Robert Olejnik. Corner taken by Bakary Sako. 3:18 Shot by Dwight Gayle from outside the area goes high over the crossbar. 0:00 The referee starts the match.

Friday 21st December Blackpool v Wolves 19:45 ko Live on Sky

Blackpool 1 Baptiste 89′' Wolves 2 Ebanks-Blake 3′', 72′' (pen)

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored twice as Wolves capitalised on Blackpool's profligacy to inflict Michael Appleton's first loss as manager.  Ebanks-Blake latched on to Jermaine Pennant's pass and dinked over Matt Gilks to give his side an early lead. Tiago Gomes struck a post and Carl Ikeme pulled off an amazing triple save as Wolves somehow preserved their lead. Blackpool paid the price as Ebanks-Blake rifled home a penalty before Alex Baptiste headed a late consolation. Moments before Baptiste's goal, Ebanks-Blake had almost completed his hat-trick when he rounded Gilks but lashed his shot high and wide. Wolves' third win in four games moved them five places up the league into 13th place, just one point behind the Seasiders, who were previously unbeaten in eight matches since Appleton took over from Ian Holloway. Wolves had already served notice of their threat with Bakary Sako slicing high and wide before they took the lead in the third minute. Pennant slid the ball through a gap in the home defence to the onrushing Ebanks-Blake, who clipped expertly past Gilks. Blackpool enjoyed plenty of possession, but it was half an hour before they fashioned a clear sight of goal. A long ball put Liverpool target Tom Ince clear of the Wolves defence on the right, but instead of trying his luck, he played the ball across goal and narrowly beyond the outstretched leg of Wes Thomas. Moments later, Ince shimmied clear of his marker and squared for Gomes, who slammed the ball against the post from 20 yards. Suddenly Wolves were all at sea, with gaps appearing everywhere in their defence. Ince's shot was saved by Ikeme, but the ball looped to Thomas, who could not keep his header down with the goal gaping. The one-way traffic continued after the break as Ince was played through once again, only for Stephen Ward to block his goalbound shot. Then, Ikeme pulled off three saves in two minutes to deny Gomes and Ince twice, the last an athletic lunge across his goal to parry a full-blooded volley from the 20-year-old England Under-21 winger. The introduction of the combative David Davis prompted Wolves' best spell of the game and they were handed the chance to seal the win when Chris Basham needlessly tugged Sako's shirt inside the box. Ebanks-Blake struck his spot-kick down the middle to double the visitors' advantage. Blackpool gave themselves hope with a close-range header from captain Baptiste after Nouha Dicko's shot was saved, but in four minutes of injury-time they could not force an equaliser.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & Subs (6)

Blackpool

01 Gilks

03 Crainey

15 Baptiste

17 Basham

42 Broadfoot Booked

08 Gomes

18 Osbourne Booked

31 Angel (K Phillips - 75' )

11 Ince

39 Thomas (Taylor-Fletcher - 46' )

40 Delfouneso (Dicko - 82' )

Substitutes

21 Halstead

05 Eardley

33 Harris

14 Sylvestre

09 K Phillips

12 Taylor-Fletcher

38 Dicko

Wolverhampton Wanderers

13 Ikeme

11 Ward

14 Johnson

16 Berra

32 Foley

08 Henry

10 Sako (Stearman - 88' )

20 Pennant Booked (Forde - 82' )

28 Doumbia (Davis - 67' )

09 Ebanks-Blake

29 Doyle

Substitutes

31 De Vries

05 Stearman

25 Batth

22 Jonsson

26 Davis

27 Forde

18 Nouble

Ref: Coote

Att: 14,556

MATCH STATS

Possession

Blackpool 56% Wolverhampton Wanderers 44%

Shots 24 5

On target 15 2

Corners 6 3

Fouls 8 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:06 Full time

Full Time

The referee brings the game to a close. 90:00 +3:58 Tiago Gomes crosses the ball. 90:00 +0:03 The assistant referee flags for offside against Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Matt Gilks takes the indirect free kick. Nouha Dicko takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 88:33 Nouha Dicko provided the assist for the goal. 88:33 Goal scored Goal - Alex Baptiste - Blackpool 1 - 2 Wolves Alex Baptiste grabs a headed goal from close in. Blackpool 1-2 Wolverhampton. 88:30 Nouha Dicko takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 87:30 Substitution Richard Stearman replaces Bakary Sako. 87:09 Close range effort by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake clears the crossbar. 85:55 Gary Taylor-Fletcher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Karl Henry. Direct free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 85:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Bakary Sako on Alex Baptiste. Free kick taken by Matt Gilks. 84:32 Thomas Ince sends in a cross, save made by Carl Ikeme. 83:20 Shot by Nouha Dicko from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal. 81:04 The free kick is swung in left-footed by Thomas Ince, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. Tiago Gomes takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 81:04 Substitution Nouha Dicko comes on in place of Nathan Delfouneso. 81:04 Substitution Jermaine Pennant goes off and Anthony Forde comes on. 81:04 Karl Henry challenges Thomas Ince unfairly and gives away a free kick. 79:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Karl Henry by Thomas Ince. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 75:13 The ball is swung over by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, save by Matt Gilks. 74:13 Substitution Kevin Phillips joins the action as a substitute, replacing Angel Martinez. 73:25 Direct free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 73:25 Booking The referee cautions Kirk Broadfoot for unsporting behaviour. 72:46 Angel Martinez produces a cross, clearance made by Roger Johnson. Chris Basham delivers the ball. Thomas Ince takes a shot. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Kirk Broadfoot. 71:36 Assist by Bakary Sako. 71:36 Goal scored Goal - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Blackpool 0 - 2 Wolves Penalty taken right-footed by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and scored. Blackpool 0-2 Wolverhampton. 70:38 Booking  for Isaiah Osbourne. 70:24 Isaiah Osbourne challenges Bakary Sako unfairly and gives away a Penalty.by Kirk Broadfoot. 71:36 Assist by Bakary Sako. 71:36 Goal scored Goal - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Blackpool 0 - 2 Wolves Penalty taken right-footed by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and scored. Blackpool 0-2 Wolverhampton. 70:38 Booking for Isaiah Osbourne. 70:24 Isaiah Osbourne challenges Bakary Sako unfairly and gives away a Penalty. 69:06 The ball is crossed by Bakary Sako. 68:16 The ball is crossed by Bakary Sako, save by Matt Gilks. 68:04 Centre by Stephen Ward, Chris Basham makes a clearance. 67:04 Tiago Gomes takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Kevin Doyle manages to make a clearance. 66:03 David Davis replaces Tongo Doumbia. 66:03 Foul by Kevin Doyle on Tiago Gomes, free kick awarded. 66:03 Matt Gilks restarts play with the free kick. 66:03 David Davis replaces Tongo Doumbia. 66:03 awarded for an unfair challenge on Tiago Gomes by Kevin Doyle. 65:52 The ball is sent over by Jermaine Pennant. 64:50 Angel Martinez sends in a cross, Karl Henry makes a clearance. 64:22 The ball is swung over by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Stephen Ward gets a block in. 62:04 Thomas Ince produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target. 61:32 The assistant referee flags for offside against Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Matt Gilks takes the indirect free kick. 60:19 Free kick crossed left-footed by Stephen Crainey from left wing. 60:19 Booking The referee shows Jermaine Pennant a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 60:08 Foul by Jermaine Pennant on Stephen Crainey, free kick awarded. 59:45 The ball is sent over by Chris Basham, clearance by Roger Johnson. 57:28 Gary Taylor-Fletcher takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. 57:18 Tiago Gomes takes a shot. Christophe Berra gets a block in. 55:52 Chris Basham delivers the ball, clearance by Christophe Berra. 52:27 Centre by Kevin Doyle, Stephen Crainey makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako. 49:43 Centre by Stephen Crainey, Tiago Gomes takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. Tiago Gomes takes the inswinging corner, Christophe Berra makes a clearance. Thomas Ince takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. Corner taken by Tiago Gomes played to the near post. 48:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Roger Johnson by Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Free kick taken by Roger Johnson. 48:09 Jermaine Pennant sends in a cross. 47:00 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tiago omes from the left by-line to the near post, Close range header by Alex Baptiste misses to the right of the target. 46:45 Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 45:01 The game restarts for the second half. 45:01 Gary Taylor-Fletcher joins the action as a substitute, replacing Wes Thomas. 45:00 +2:57 Half time 

The whistle is blown to end the first half. 45:00 +1:31 Christophe Berra concedes a free kick for a foul on Thomas Ince. Shot comes in from Thomas Ince from the free kick. 44:22 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Unfair challenge on Nathan Delfouneso by Roger Johnson results in a free kick. Matt Gilks restarts play with the free kick. 44:06 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake takes a shot. Matt Gilks makes a save. 39:46 The ball is crossed by Stephen Crainey, clearance by Roger Johnson. 38:56 Isaiah Osbourne sends in a cross, Stephen Ward manages to make a clearance. 37:50 Shot from just outside the area by Nathan Delfouneso misses to the right of the target. 34:53 Bakary Sako crosses the ball, blocked by Nathan Delfouneso. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Roger Johnson takes a shot. Clearance made by Kirk Broadfoot. Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme. Wes Thomas produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar. 34:53 Bakary Sako produces a cross, Nathan Delfouneso gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako, Roger Johnson takes a shot. Kirk Broadfoot makes a clearance. Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. Wes Thomas has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar. 34:15 Corner taken by Thomas Ince, clearance by Roger Johnson. 33:09 Nathan Delfouneso fouled by Jermaine Pennant, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Stephen Crainey from left wing, clearance by Roger Johnson. 31:52 Effort from just outside the penalty box by Tiago Gomes strikes the post. Stephen Crainey takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. 30:30 Close range effort by Thomas Ince misses to the left of the goal. 28:16 Bakary Sako challenges Chris Basham unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Stephen Crainey, Bakary Sako makes a clearance. The referee blows for offside against Alex Baptiste. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 27:19 Stephen Ward gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Thomas Ince. Thomas Ince crosses the ball in from the free kick, Christophe Berra makes a clearance. 23:46 The ball is sent over by Thomas Ince, clearance by Christophe Berra. 23:03 Nathan Delfouneso produces a cross, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. 20:18 Foul by Alex Baptiste on Kevin Doyle, free kick awarded. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick. 19:26 Thomas Ince takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Kevin Doyle manages to make a clearance. 16:29 The ball is sent over by Bakary Sako, Kirk Broadfoot makes a clearance. 15:39 Alex Baptiste challenges Jermaine Pennant unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Ward. 14:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tongo Doumbia on Isaiah Osbourne. Kirk Broadfoot restarts play with the free kick. 14:09 Jermaine Pennant produces a cross. 12:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Foley on Nathan Delfouneso. Tiago Gomes has an effort direct from the free kick, Carl Ikeme makes a save. 11:39 Karl Henry fouled by Angel Martinez, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Ward. 9:44 Nathan Delfouneso produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net. 9:05 Thomas Ince crosses the ball, Christophe Berra makes a clearance. 8:09 The assistant referee flags for offside against Wes Thomas. Indirect free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 7:45 The ball is crossed by Kevin Doyle, save made by Matt Gilks. 6:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tongo Doumbia on Alex Baptiste. Direct free kick taken by Alex Baptiste. 5:42 Tiago Gomes takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme. 3:55 The ball is crossed by Chris Basham. 2:20 Assist on the goal came from Jermaine Pennant. 2:20 Goal scored Goal - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Blackpool 0 - 1 Wolves Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scores a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Blackpool 0-1 Wolverhampton. 1:24 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Stephen Crainey takes the indirect free kick. 0:51 Shot by Bakary Sako. 0:37 The ball is sent over by Jermaine Pennant, clearance by Alex Baptiste. 0:00 The referee gets the game started.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association

TEAM NEWS

Blackpool will be without defender Ian Evatt (knee) and midfielder Chris Basham (ankle). Defender Stephen Crainey is available after completing a suspension but winger Matt Phillips remains on the sidelines with a toe injury.

Wolves defender Georg Margreitter is back in contention after recovering from a hip problem. Winger Razak Boukari has returned to France for treatment on a calf injury and is out for three months.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • • This is the first meeting since Wolves' 4-0 victory over Blackpool in the Premier League in February 2011.
  • • Blackpool's 2-1 home win four months earlier is their only maximum in 15 League meetings against the black-country club over 47

years.

• If three goals feature in this match, it will take the total on display in league clashes between the pair to 300.

Blackpool

  • • Michael Appleton sends out an 11th-placed Blackpool team in defence of the eight-match unbeaten start in his tutorage.
  • • 'Pool have won three and drawn five since losing at Derby on 3 November, and need a win to equal their half-way total of 35
  • points last season, when they rose to seventh place.
  • • The Lancashire club have been beaten in only one of their last seven pre-Christmas fixtures.
  • • If selected, Alex Baptiste will be making his 150th league appearance for the Seasiders.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • • Wolves have managed just two wins in 12 Championship outings, and have lost six of the most recent nine.
  • • Stale Solbakken's men have failed to pick up a single point from their five away matches against top-half clubs, and Leicester is
  • the only top 14 club they have beaten.
  • • The west Midland club have opened the scoring in 14 of their 22 league matches; only Cardiff have taken the initial lead more
  • often in this division (15 times).

 

Saturday 15th December Middlesborough 2 (linesman)v Wolves 0

NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Riverside Stadium Date: Saturday 15 August Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

The lino gifts it to Boro with a non-penalty penalty.  

The Express & Star reported
 
A hotly-disputed penalty two minutes from time ended Wolves’ hopes of a third successive victory and ensured their 61-year wait for a win at Middlesbrough dragged on.  

Substitute Marvin Emnes sent former Boro loan keeper Carl Ikeme the wrong way from the spot to settle a game that was heading for a 0-0 draw before the controversial decision.   Scott McDonald then hit them on the break in the fourth minute of time added on to make it 2-0.   But the game hinged on the decision of West Yorkshire official Rob Madley, who responded to his assistant’s calls and saw fit to award a penalty after McDonald’s cross appeared to hit the right shoulder of captain Karl Henry as he turned away from the ball.  An angry Henry later claimed the ball struck his shoulder and ribs.  The decision sparked fury among Wolves players and supporters, and manager Stale Solbakken had to drag away Henry and Stephen Ward at the final whistle as they carried on their protests.  The penalty was the second contentious one to be given against Wolves in recent weeks after Brighton earned one when a cross was smashed at Ward from point blank range and he couldn’t get out of the way. And although Henry was further away than Ward was against the Seagulls, it still looked a harsh decision.   It was hard on Wolves too as they were the better side in the second half and looked the more dangerous side after an even first period.  As expected, Solbakken named an unchanged team from the side that beat Birmingham 1-0 last Saturday and kept the same substitutes.   Wolves held their own in an even first half, and although they didn’t really trouble Boro from open play, forced home keeper Jason Steele into two saves from dangerman Bakary Sako.  Boro were first to threaten as the home side exposed an uncomfortable opening few moments for Roger Johnson.  First McDonald drove wide after a long pass from Seb Hines dropped over the former Birmingham defender, allowing the striker the chance to turn in the eighth minute.  Then, three minutes later, Johnson was beaten to Josh McEachran’s through pass by Luke Williams, who was briefly left clean through and got a shot away only for Ikeme to race from his line to smother the ball away.  McDonald was unable to reach the rebound to force the ball into the unguarded net.  Wolves gradually settled however and found their way into the game.  Kevin Doyle appealed in vain for a penalty in the 21st minute when he forced his way through and fell under what appeared to be contact from Hines.  Johnson looked to have recovered from his unconvincing start when he did enough to put off McDonald from connecting with Justin Hoyte’s cross from close range.  Wolves hit back with a free kick from Sako that was curled with pace low through Boro’s three-man wall from an acute angle, but Steele was well-positioned to hold at his near post.  Sako came more and more into the game and after twisting and turning inside Justin Hoyte, saw a fierce cross shot smothered by Steele.  After the break, Wolves carried the greater threat for long periods and were the better side until the late drama.   Sako continued to torment Boro and his angled shot appeared to come off Hines but the referee failed to award a corner.  But Wolves had a major let-off in the 52nd minute when Luke Williams passed up a glorious shooting opportunity after McDonald’s backheel put him in on goal.  Instead of shooting, the youngster opted to carry the ball on and with the angle getting tighter, allowed himself to be crowded out.  Eventually, Boro worked the ball back to McEachran for a long-range drive that Ikeme made a falling save from.  Wolves returned to the attack and Sako beat Grant Leadbitter only for his right-foot effort to fly straight at Steele.  The visitors carried the greater threat and Doyle flashed a near-post header wide from Sako’s corner.  After substitute and former Walsall midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma fired straight at Ikeme, Doyle had Steele scrambling the ball away on 77 minutes after he adjusted his feet quickly to rifle in a left-foot drive following sub Jermaine Pennant’s short pass.  Another Wolves replacement, David Davis, should have done better when he was teed up by Sako on the edge of the area in the 83rd minute, seeing his siodefooted effort smothered by Steele.  Sako saw another cross-shot held by the Boro keeper, but the game was heading for a 0-0 draw when the referee’s assistant flagged for a penalty.  Emnes slotted to Ikeme’s left as the keeper dived right to give Boro a hardly-deserved lead and leave Wolves fuming.  Then, with the visitors hopelessly outnumbered as they chased an equaliser, the striker teed up McDonald to his right to drive across Ikeme in the fourth minute of time added on.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (1) & S (5)
Middlesbrough
01 Steele
02 Hoyte
04 Friend (Parnaby - 80' )
15 Hines
39 Woodgate
07 Leadbitter Booked
16 McEachran
33 Smallwood
22 Williams (Emnes - 62' )
27 McDonald
30 Miller (Ledesma - 62' )
Substitutes
32 Leutwiler
21 Parnaby
08 Thomson
10 Bailey
09 Emnes
11 Ledesma
17 Jutkiewicz
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme
11 Ward
14 Johnson
16 Berra
32 Foley
08 Henry
10 Sako
28 Doumbia (Davis - 74' )
09 Ebanks-Blake (Pennant - 74' )
15 Sigurdarson
29 Doyle
Substitutes
31 De Vries
05 Stearman
25 Batth
20 Pennant
26 Davis
27 Forde
18 Nouble
Ref: Robert Madley
Att: 15,662
MATCH STATS
Possession
47%
53%
90mins
Middlesbrough
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Shots
77
On target
22
Corners
28
Fouls
74
Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:42 Full time
Full Time
The referee ends the match. 90:00 +3:24 Assist on the goal came from Marvin Emnes. 90:00 +3:24 Goal scored
Goal - Scott McDonald - Middlesbro 2 - 0 Wolves
Goal scored by Scott McDonald from just outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 2-0 Wolverhampton. 90:00 +2:12 Effort from the edge of the box by Bjorn Sigurdarson goes wide of the left-hand upright. 90:00 +1:18 Christophe Berra fouled by Richard Smallwood, the ref awards a free kick. Bakary Sako takes the direct free kick.
88:11 Goal scored  Goal - Marvin Emnes - Middlesbro 1 - 0 Wolves
Penalty taken right-footed by Marvin Emnes and scored. Middlesbrough 1-0 Wolverhampton. 87:01 Penalty awarded for a foul by Karl Henry on Scott McDonald. 85:56 A cross is delivered by Scott McDonald, blocked by Karl Henry. 84:38 The assistant referee flags for offside against Marvin Emnes. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 84:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Bakary Sako on Josh McEachran. Grant Leadbitter restarts play with the free kick. 83:18 Bakary Sako takes a outswinging corner. 82:48 David Davis takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a save. 80:46 The referee blows for offside against Scott McDonald. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick. 79:34 Stuart Parnaby comes on in place of George Friend. 73:01 David Davis on for Tongo Doumbia. 73:01 Jermaine Pennant on for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 76:16 Corner taken by Stephen Ward, Richard Smallwood makes a clearance. 75:56 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a save. 76:16 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jermaine Pennant from the right by-line, clearance made by Richard Smallwood. 73:01 David Davis is brought on as a substitute for Tongo Doumbia. 73:01  Nenad Milijas replaces Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 71:34 Shot from just outside the penalty area by George Friend misses to the left of the target. 70:22 Emmanuel Ledesma takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 65:38 Tongo Doumbia has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal. 64:57 Emmanuel Ledesma gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Karl Henry. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 61:28 Emmanuel Ledesma on for Ishmael Miller. 61:28 Luke Williams goes off and Marvin Emnes comes on. 60:18 Roger Johnson concedes a free kick for a foul on Ishmael Miller. Grant Leadbitter takes the direct free kick. 57:10 Inswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako, clearance made by Jonathan Woodgate. 56:02 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line. 54:33 Luke Williams takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 52:32 The ball is swung over by Justin Hoyte, clearance made by Christophe Berra. 49:29 The offside flag is raised against Ishmael Miller. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick. 45:01 The game restarts for the second half. 45:00 +1:05 Half time
Half Time
The half-time whistle blows. 44:45 Effort on goal by Ishmael Miller from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar. 42:25 Foul by George Friend on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, free kick awarded. Bakary Sako fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick. 41:59 George Friend takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand post. 41:21 Bakary Sako takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a save. 40:08 Direct free kick taken by Bakary Sako. 40:08 Booking Grant Leadbitter shown a yellow card. 39:56 Foul by Grant Leadbitter on Kevin Doyle, free kick awarded. 38:52 Corner from the left by-line taken by Bakary Sako, Richard Smallwood manages to make a clearance. 35:51 The ball is sent over by Luke Williams, Stephen Ward makes a clearance. 31:46 The ball is crossed by George Friend, Stephen Ward makes a clearance. 30:00 Kevin Foley concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Williams. Grant Leadbitter takes the free kick. 28:46 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Bakary Sako, clearance by George Friend. 26:18 Unfair challenge on Tongo Doumbia by Seb Hines results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Bakary Sako. 25:12 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter, clearance made by Christophe Berra. 23:05 The ball is delivered by George Friend, Christophe Berra makes a clearance. 20:34 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Bakary Sako. 20:06 Karl Henry takes a shot. Grant Leadbitter gets a block in. 19:16 Tongo Doumbia fouled by Richard Smallwood, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin Foley takes the free kick. 16:20 Bakary Sako takes the outswinging corner, Josh McEachran makes a clearance. 15:46 Stephen Ward crosses the ball, clearance made by Seb Hines. 14:19 Grant Leadbitter takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Bakary Sako. 7:38 Scott McDonald has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target. 6:33 The assistant referee signals for offside against Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Seb Hines restarts play with the free kick. 1:11 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ishmael Miller on Roger Johnson. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick. 0:00 The game begins. LESS LIVE TEXT
Live text and data provided by The Press Association

TEAM NEWS

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will give late fitness tests to Grant Leadbitter, Faris Haroun, Andre Bikey (all hamstring), Andy Halliday (Achilles) and Seb Hines (knee).
Josh McEachran is available, while Jonathan Woodgate has recovered from his calf injury and could feature.
Wolves are not expected to name Jamie O'Hara (hernia) in their squad.
Mali international Tongo Doumbia could continue in midfield after replacing the injured Dave Edwards.
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
•Middlesbrough are looking for a 40th win from their 81st league meeting with Wolves, and a 25th at home.
•Boro hold a 20-match unbeaten home league record against the Black Country club (W12, D8).
•Wanderers last returned with maximum points from Teesside in April 1951, courtesy of 2-1 top-flight triumph at Ayresome Park.
Middlesbrough
•Third-placed Middlesbrough, three points outside the top two and six points off the pace, have lost three of their last five league games, but are looking for a third win in four.
•Tony Mowbray's team are on the same points total as at this stage last season, but three points would provide Boro with their eighth home victory, and equal the total gained in the whole of last season.
•Five of the their seven home victories have been against bottom-half clubs.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
•Wolves are trying to complete three successive league victories for the first time since the end of September.
•But only one of their eight wins has been against a top-half club, and they are yet to defeat a top-12 side away from home.
•Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is anticipating his 250th appearance for the club.

Saturday 8th December Wolves 1 (King og)  Birmingham City 0 LIVE ON SKY ko 5:20pm (WWLSC Xmas lunch 1pm)

Wolves ended a run of six home games without a win as they beat Midlands rivals Birmingham at Molineux.
The victory came courtesy of a Marlon King own goal and also helped ease the pressure on Wolves manager Stale Solbakken.
Blues striker King sliced a Bakary Sako free-kick into his own net after 34 minutes and his side failed to recover. Wolves applied plenty of pressure in the second half but could not get a second goal before seeing out the win. Wolves had beaten Bristol City last time out and overcoming the Blues gave them back-to-back wins for only the second time this  season.  The defeat added to Birmingham's struggles and, despite starting promisingly, they went behind.  King's attempted clearance at the near post only resulted in him diverting Sako's free-kick past his own keeper Jack Butland. Wolves should have put the game beyond Birmingham's reach in the second half but Kevin Doyle shot wide, while the impressive Butland saved from Stephen Ward.  Butland's performance will have enhanced his reputation and he pulled off a superb instinctive save to keep out Bjorn Sigurdarson's  header. The Blues keeper even went up for a late corner but the visitors could not find an equaliser.
LINEUP, S (3) & S (5)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme
11 Ward
14 Johnson Booked
16 Berra
32 Foley
08 Henry
10 Sako
28 Doumbia (Davis - 74' )
09 Ebanks-Blake (Pennant - 84' )
15 Sigurdarson
29 Doyle
Substitutes
31 De Vries
05 Stearman
25 Batth
20 Pennant
26 Davis
27 Forde
18 Nouble
Birmingham City
01 Butland
04 Caldwell
06 Davies
23 Spector (Morrison - 46' )
28 Caddis
30 Robinson Booked
08 Mullins Booked
15 Elliott
22 Redmond (Lovenkrands - 72' )
09 King
29 Hall (Burke - 80' )
Substitutes
13 Doyle
24 Packwood
27 Hancox
07 Burke
12 Morrison
32 Diop
11 Lovenkrands
Ref: Taylor
Att: 21,339
MATCH STATS
Possession

90mins
Wolverhampton Wanderers 51% Birmingham City 49%
Shots      14 10
On target  4   5
Corners    7  5
Fouls       10  7
Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:59 Full time
Full Time
The match has reached full-time. 90:00 +3:42 Steven Caldwell takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme. 90:00 +2:21 Corner from
the right by-line taken by Christopher Burke, Headed effort from inside the area by Curtis Davies misses to the left of the goal.
85:15 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line played to the near post, Kevin Doyle has a header from close in and clears
the crossbar. 85:04 The referee shows Hayden Mullins a yellow card. 83:34 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake leaves the field to be replaced by Jermaine Pennant. 81:34 Wade Elliott challenges Roger Johnson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 81:06 Curtis Davies fouled by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the ref awards a free kick. Jack Butland restarts play with the free kick. 79:57 (Birmingham) makes a , with Christopher Burke coming on for Robert Hall. 78:54 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line to the near post, Marlon King manages to make a clearance. 76:27 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Robinson. Wade Elliott takes the direct free kick. 74:41 Shot from just outside the area by Kevin Foley goes over the bar. 73:27 Tongo Doumbia goes off and David Davis comes on. 71:04 Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 71:04 Nathan Redmond leaves the field to be replaced by Peter Lovenkrands. 71:04 Marlon King is flagged offside by the assistant referee. 69:38 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance. 69:38 Corner taken left-footed by Karl Henry, clearance made by Curtis Davies. 68:45 Corner taken by Bakary Sako played to the near post, Bjorn Sigurdarson takes a shot. Jack Butland makes a save. 67:15 Outswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako.  66:20 Marlon King is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Roger Johnson takes the free kick. 65:12 Effort on goal by Kevin Doyle from inside the box misses to the right of the target. 62:09 Shot from just outside the box by Nathan Redmond misses to the right of the goal. 61:34 Bjorn Sigurdarson takes a shot. Steven Caldwell gets a block in. 61:02 Marlon King is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Roger Johnson takes the indirect free kick. 60:00 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako, Shot by Roger Johnson. 58:01 Marlon King is caught offside. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 57:05 Effort from deep inside the area by Bakary Sako misses to the left of the goal. 56:28 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake takes a shot. Steven Caldwell gets a block in. 54:08 Effort from outside the box by Kevin Doyle goes wide right of the target. 53:49 Bakary Sako takes a shot. Curtis Davies gets a block in. 51:20 Ravel Morrison takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 50:50 Tongo Doumbia takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Robinson. 48:05 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Shot by Christophe Berra from inside the six-yard box clear the bar. 45:36 The referee blows for offside against Bjorn Sigurdarson. Free kick taken by Jack Butland. 45:01 The referee starts the second half. 45:01 Ravel Morrison is brought on as a substitute for Jonathan Spector. 45:00 +2:33 Half time
Half Time
The whistle is blown to end the first half. 45:00 +1:58 The referee blows for offside. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick. 43:43 Bakary Sako crosses the ball, Header from deep inside the area by Bjorn Sigurdarson goes over the bar. 43:43  for Paul Robinson for unsporting behaviour. 43:35 Paul Robinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 43:06 Inswinging corner taken by Robert Hall, save made by Carl Ikeme. 42:04 Marlon King produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 42:04 The referee shows Roger Johnson a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 41:55 Unfair challenge on Wade Elliott by Roger Johnson results in a free kick. 39:37 Foul by Kevin Foley on Nathan Redmond, free kick awarded. Nathan Redmond crosses the ball in from the free kick, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. 38:17 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Caldwell. Free kick taken by Jack Butland. 36:24 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake concedes a free kick for a foul on Curtis Davies. Curtis Davies restarts play with the free kick. 34:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Christophe Berra on Marlon King. Strike comes in from Robert Hall from the free kick. 33:34 Assist by Bakary Sako. 33:34 Goal scored
Goal - Marlon King - Wolves 1 - 0 Birmingham
Marlon King scores an own goal. Wolverhampton 1-0 Birmingham. 32:15 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake fouled by Steven Caldwell, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Bakary Sako from right wing, Marlon King gets a block in. 31:52 Kevin Doyle is ruled offside. Curtis Davies takes the indirect free kick. 31:05 The assistant referee flags for offside against Robert Hall. Indirect free kick taken by Christophe Berra. 28:54 Foul by Hayden Mullins on Tongo Doumbia, free kick awarded. Christophe Berra takes the free kick. 23:19 Corner from the right by-line taken by Robert Hall, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. 21:39 Paul Caddis takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 19:02 Stephen Ward gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Redmond. Free kick taken by Robert Hall. Short corner taken by Nathan Redmond. Curtis Davies has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright. 17:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Caddis by Kevin Doyle. Direct free kick taken by Jack Butland. 15:00 Shot from close in by Bjorn Sigurdarson misses to the left of the goal. 13:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Roger Johnson by Paul Robinson. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick. 9:08 Tongo Doumbia gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Caddis. Paul Caddis takes the direct free kick. 7:57 Jonathan Spector has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post. 7:34 Paul Caddis takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 3:09 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Robert Hall, clearance by Kevin Doyle. 2:21 The assistant referee signals for offside against Stephen Ward. Jack Butland takes the indirect free kick. 2:03 Wade Elliott concedes a free kick for a foul on Tongo Doumbia. Direct free kick taken by Roger Johnson. 1:49 Steven Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 0:48 The ball is sent over by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, save made by Jack Butland. 0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

TEAM NEWS

Wolves may recall midfielder Tongo Doumbia as Stale Solbakken's men target their first home win in seven matches.
Doumbia has been rested for two games, but Dave Edwards tore his hamstring in last week's 4-1 win at Bristol City and it is too
soon for Jamie O'Hara.
Birmingham could recall Wade Elliott to the starting line-up after he came off the bench to score in last Friday night's 3-2 win over
Middlesbrough.
Darren Ambrose (knee) remains out, but could return to training next week.
VIEWS FROM THE TRAINING GROUND

Wolves manager Stale Solbakken told BBC WM:
"All three teams who gave come down from the Premier League have struggled for shorter or longer periods. Maybe this is the
toughest Championship ever. It is a very competitive league, with small margins, and everyone can beat everyone on the day.
There are no easy games.  Probably it will be a little bit more intense in periods. Two teams that both need the three points.
"Some of the players will need to think twice, so we don't have this over focus on tackling and battling, as also have to play ffootball."
Birmingham manager Lee Clark told BBC WM:
"Derby games are intense, all about the bragging rights. But it's about being motivated, playing the game and not the occasion and
keeping your head and discipline.
"Sometimes players go off on a tangent and do some crazy things and get yellow and red cards that don't help the team.
"Wolves spent some big money for this division in the summer. I watched them at Bristol City last Saturday and they looked a
powerful outfit. To win any game by that scoreline away from home is a great result."
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
•These West Midlands rivals have participated in 120 league clashes since 1894, with Wolves winning 56 and Birmingham 36.
•They last locked horns in the third round of the FA Cup last season when, after a goalless 90 minutes at St Andrew's, a
Wade Elliott goal proved sufficient to see Birmingham through the Molineux replay,
•Stephen Hunt scored the only goal in the most recent corresponding league fixture on this same weekend two years ago, when Wolves recorded their only victory in 11 Premier League and Championship local derbies against Blues.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
•Stale Solbakken's Wolves halted a nine-match winless run with last Saturday's 4-1 eclipse of Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Now they are looking for a first point in three and a first win in seven at Molineux.
•Wolves are the best behaved in the Championship, with only 18 yellow cards this season.
•Roger Johnson is anticipating his 400th career league appearance.
Birmingham City
•Lee Clark's Blues, two places and one point inferior to their opponents in 19th, gained their first win in five with last Friday night's 3-2 home win over Middlesbrough.
•They are the only club in the Championship without an away win against a bottom-half side, and should they let in one goal, they will take their total conceded away from home in second level league games to 1,500.
•Marlon King, last season's 18-goal top scorer, has got nine in nine games to give him 13 for the current campaign.

Saturday 1st December Bristol City 1 Danns 85′  Wolves  4  Ebanks-Blake 20′Doyle 25′, 41′Sigurdarson 44′


Bristol City 1 Wolves 4 - match report from expressandstar.co.uk

Resurgent Wolves provided the perfect response to a turbulent week after crushing Bristol City to end their nine-match winless run.Man of the match Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (21), Kevin Doyle (25 and 41) and Bjorn Sigurdarson (45) banished all talk of players and manager Stale Solbakken’s debate by half-time in their best 45 minutes of the season.  Derek McInnes’ poor side were booed off at the break to chants of ‘what a load of rubbish’, just like Wolves were after Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Millwall.  In a chance-laden second half – with virtually all of them going to Wolves – City bagged a consolation through Neil Danns in the 85th minute. The only downside to Wolves’ biggest victory since beating Blackpool 4-0 in February 25 2011 and their heaviest away since a 4-1 win at Leicester on May 6, 2007 was the worrying sight of midfielder Dave Edwards being stretchered off in the 60th minute with a mystery injury away from the ball.  The Wales international became Wolves’ 10th casualty currently out.Solbakken made three changes.  Kevin Foley, captain Karl Henry and Ebanks-Blake replaced Richard Stearman, David Davis and Jermaine Pennant, who all dropped to the bench. Ebanks-Blake fully justified his recall with his best game for many months, having a hand in all four goals, but Doyle and Sigurdarson were worthy man of the match contenders.  Tongo Doumbia missed out on a place in the 18 after he was sent to France on a special training programme to rid him of mental and physical fatigue.  Wolves looked the better side from early on and should have been ahead as early as the fourth minute, but Ebanks-Blake stabbed wide from six yards out after Bakary Sako’s cross.  But Ebanks-Blake and Wolves didn’t have too long to wait as they took the lead with the next attack of the game and were 2-0 up four minutes later.  The striker flicked home Stephen Ward’s stunning 18-yard volley in a crowded box after City partly cleared Sako’s corner.  Doyle doubled Wolves’ lead when he slid in to convert Bjorn Sigurdarson’s cross after Ebanks-Blake started the move with a pass to the Icelandic forward overlapping on the right and he drew keeper Tom Heaton before crossing.  Doyle’s second was arguably the best goal he has scored for Wolves.  Picking up possession about 15 yards inside his own half, he burst through two City players then set off towards goal, with Ebanks-Blake taking out two defenders with a run to the right as the Ireland international went left before firing a low left-foot across Heaton into the bottom corner from 12 yards.  Just before half-time, Sigurdarson sent Wolves fans into dreamland when he rounded off another superb move, sending a first-time left-foot drive across Heaton from a similar position to Doyle’s second after a move between Sako and Ebanks-Blake.  Doyle was twice denied a hat-trick in the five minutes after half-time as Wolves blew away any fears of yet another second-half fade-out.  First the Ireland international beat keeper Tom Heaton after cutting in from the right only for his shot to be cleared away from in front of the line by Matthew Bates.  Moments later his shot hit Heaton’s legs with Ebanks-Blake and Sigurdarson waiting for a pass in the box.   To City’s credit though, they carried the fight to Wolves and created
half chances, one-time Wolves target Marvin Elliott firing just over from 20 yards before Danns forced a falling save from Ikeme with a sidefooted effort.  With the game becoming increasingly open, Wolves hit back and should have added several goals to their tally. Sako stung the palms of Heaton with an angled drive before Roger Johnson sent a looping header against the bar with Heaton beaten.  Substitute Sam Baldock flashed a rising effort over before three chances for Ebanks-Blake in 10 minutes.  First the striker’s drive was palmed away by Heaton after he ‘rolled’ defender Matthew Bates, then he ballooned over leaning back inside the area before he missed Sako’s cross from six yards out.  Substitute David Davis, who replaced Edwards, curled a shot over before Danns struck.   But the game was long won and the day belonged to Wolves and Solbakken

and the BBC
Bristol City 1 Danns 85′  Wolves  4  Ebanks-Blake 20′Doyle 25′, 41′Sigurdarson 44′
FT 90 +4
HT 0-4

1 December 2012
Kevin Doyle struck twice against Bristol City to help earn Wolves manager Stale Solbakken his first win in 10 Championship games.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake opened the scoring when he diverted Stephen Ward's volley into the net. Doyle scored two in 16 minutes, the first from Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson's cross and the second after a powerful run. Sigurdarson made it 4-0 before Neil Danns scored a late consolation.It was only Wolves' seventh league win under Solbakken and came at the end of a week in which the Norwegian's car was  vandalised outside his Staffordshire apartment.  Bristol City, who dropped into the relegation zone with this result, have now lost nine of their last 11 league games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their 20 league matches.Derek McInnes's side leaked all four goals before half-time and never looked like salvaging a point once Ebanks-Blake broke the deadlock in the 20th minute after the hosts had failed to deal with a corner.  Doyle made it 2-0 five minutes later when a fine move ended with the Republic of Ireland international bundling Sigurdarson's cross from the right flank past Tom Heaton.The former Reading striker then added his second in the 41st minute after a powerful run from his own half.  And just a minute before half-time the visitors made sure of the points with another fine move, finished off with a left-foot shot across Heaton from Sigurdarson after Ebanks-Blake teed him up.  Danns had a low drive saved before scoring a consolation in style from 25 yards with five minutes to go.
Bristol City boss Derek McInnes: "We lost the physical battles and it was a very poor performance. It was on the back of two decent away displays and I didn't see it coming. We never got to grips with the Wolves front two all game and our fans are entitled to be upset. Being booed off is never nice, but I can understand their feelings. After we lost the first goal we capitulated and Wolves grew in confidence.
Wolves boss Stale Solbakken: "The fans are entitled to be critical during poor runs and I have no problem with that. We are a big club and expectations are high.  If there wasn't a passionate reaction it would suggest no one cared. It is something we have to deal with.  I hope we can be a December team because we certainly weren't a November team. But we will not get carried away by one result."
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & S (5)
Bristol City
01 Heaton
02 Foster
04 Fontaine
26 Bryan
39 Bates
08 Kilkenny (Baldock - 46' )
15 Pearson
25 Elliott
27 Adomah
38 Danns Booked
18 Taylor (Davies - 58' Booked )
Substitutes
22 Gerken
03 Wilson
40 Wilson
21 Anderson
24 Reid
07 Baldock
16 Davies
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme
11 Ward
14 Johnson
16 Berra
32 Foley
04 Edwards (Davis - 60' )
08 Henry
10 Sako
09 Ebanks-Blake
15 Sigurdarson (Nouble - 86' )
29 Doyle (Forde - 72' )
Substitutes
31 De Vries
05 Stearman
25 Batth
20 Pennant
26 Davis
27 Forde
18 Nouble
Ref: Stroud
Att: 13,892
MATCH STATS
Possession
Bristol City 45% Wolverhampton Wanderers  55%
Shots 715
On target 310
Corners67
Fouls79
Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:59 Full time
The match has reached full-time. 90:00 +3:15 Sam Baldock takes a short corner. 90:00 +1:56 Foul by Frank Nouble on Albert Adomah, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Steven Davies. 90:00 +0:06 Foul by Steven Davies on Roger Johnson, free kick awarded. Roger Johnson restarts play with the free kick. 90:00 +0:06 The referee books Steven Davies for unsporting behaviour. 87:50 Bakary Sako takes a shot. Comfortable save by Tom Heaton. 84:50 Bjorn Sigurdarson leaves the field to be replaced by Frank Nouble. 84:50 Goal scored
Goal - Neil Danns - Bristol C 1 - 4 Wolves
A goal is scored by Neil Danns from 35 yards. Bristol City 1-4 Wolverhampton. 84:17 Short corner taken by Albert Adomah from the left by-line. 81:44 Steven Davies fouled by Bakary Sako, the ref awards a free kick. Steven Davies takes the direct free kick. 79:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Foley by Stephen Pearson. Free kick taken by Kevin Foley. 77:57 Effort on goal by David Davis from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target. 75:17 Inswinging corner taken by Albert Adomah. 71:28 Stephen Ward takes the free kick. 71:28 Wolverhampton makes a substitution, with Anthony Forde coming on for Kevin Doyle. 71:28 Booking - Neil Danns goes into the book. 71:21 Neil Danns concedes a free kick for a foul on David Davis. 70:48 Steven Davies takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Bakary Sako. 70:14 Shot from outside the penalty box by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake goes wide right of the goal. 69:36 Bakary Sako takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton. 68:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by David
Davis on Steven Davies. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Steven Davies. 67:22 The referee blows for offside. Tom Heaton takes the indirect free kick. 67:05 Steven Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Christophe Berra. Christophe Berra takes the free kick. 66:33 Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Save made by Tom Heaton. 64:04 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Pearson. Joe Bryan takes the direct free kick. 62:43 Shot on goal by Sam Baldock from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. 61:33 Stephen Ward challenges Albert Adomah unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Steven Davies, clearance by Karl Henry. 59:23 David Davis joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Edwards. 57:17 Steven Davies on for Ryan Taylor. 55:52 Shot from 18 yards from Bakary Sako. Tom Heaton makes a save. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Bakary Sako, Christophe Berra takes a shot. 54:19 Neil Danns takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 53:25 Marvin Elliott produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target. 49:56 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a save. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako, save made by Tom Heaton. 48:45 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Clearance made by Matthew Bates. Inswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako from the right by-line played to the near post, save by Tom Heaton. 48:10 The offside flag is raised against Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Tom Heaton takes the indirect free kick. 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half. 45:01
Sam Baldock joins the action as a substitute, replacing Neil Kilkenny. 45:00 +5:00 Half time
Half Time
The referee calls an end to the first half. 45:00 +3:22 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Liam Fontaine manages to make a clearance. 45:00 +1:26 Karl Henry concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Taylor. Free kick taken by Albert Adomah. 45:00 +1:26 Unfair challenge on Ryan Taylor by Karl Henry results in a free kick. Albert Adomah restarts play with the free kick. 43:50 Assist on the goal came from Bakary Sako. 43:50 Goal scored Goal - Bjorn Sigurdarson - Bristol C 0 - 4 Wolves
Bjorn Sigurdarson gets on the score sheet with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bristol City 0-4 Wolverhampton. 41:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Bryan by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick. 40:09 Goal scored
Goal - Kevin Doyle - Bristol C 0 - 3 Wolves
Kevin Doyle finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bristol City 0-3 Wolverhampton. 36:32 Unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Marvin Elliott results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Karl Henry. 34:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Bryan by Bjorn Sigurdarson. Albert Adomah crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, save by Carl Ikeme. 33:03 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Albert Adomah. 32:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Taylor on Christophe Berra. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 28:52 Corner taken by Albert Adomah from the right by-line. 24:34 Bjorn Sigurdarson provided the assist for the goal. 24:34 Goal scored
Goal - Kevin Doyle - Bristol C 0 - 2 Wolves
Kevin Doyle gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Bristol City 0-2 Wolverhampton. 23:55 Richard Foster has an effort at goal from long distance that misses to the right of the target. 23:19 Corner from the right by-line taken by Neil Kilkenny, clearance made by Kevin Doyle. 20:00 Goal scoredGoal - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Bristol C 0 - 1 Wolves
Goal scored by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Bristol City 0-1 Wolverhampton. 20:00 Christophe Berra provided the assist for the goal. 20:00 Goal scored Goal - Christophe Berra (ed!!)- Bristol C 0 - 1 Wolves
Christophe Berra scores a goal from just outside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Bristol City 0-1 Wolverhampton. 19:09 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the right by-line, Liam Fontaine manages to make a clearance. 17:18 Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake goes harmlessly over the crossbar. 16:01 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line to the near post, Marvin Elliott manages to make a clearance. 11:21 The referee blows for offside. Tom Heaton takes the indirect free kick. 7:47 Ryan Taylor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Roger Johnson. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 6:57 Effort from 20 yards by Liam Fontaine. Save by Carl Ikeme. 6:14 Foul by Christophe Berra on Ryan Taylor, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny. 3:31 Bakary Sako produces a cross, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the goal. 0:00 The match has kicked off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Bristol City on the slide
The Robins have failed to win in eight league attempts at home, their last Championship success in front of their fans coming on 25 August

TEAM NEWS
Bristol City's Louis Carey has a calf injury, and seems set to join Stephen McManus, Lewin Nyatanga, Jon Stead and Cole Skuse on the sidelines.
Carey's absence is the only fresh injury worry for manager Derek McInnes.Carl Ikeme hopes to be fit for Wolves despite dislocating a finger in the midweek loss to Millwall, while captain Karl Henry returns from suspension.
However, Slawomir Peszko, Steven Mouyokolo, Stephen Hunt, George Elokobi and Jamie O'Hara are all still out.

 

WWLSC

 

Wolfie - punch-up winner